If they are struggling on the brink of starvation 2:1 would be so much better for them than thin syrup. When they go get groceries they go get what they don't have. Feed them thick syrup and they will forage for pollen, with pollen they will make bees, thats all the stimulate you need, real pollen. 2:1 will give them the energy to forage, thin syrup is asking them to stay inside and work hard to dry it down before it's fermented.
Generally I do thick syrup if 8 week before 1 st day of winter changed to straight sugar to avoid fermented syrup , the new hive I bought which had no drawn comb or resources , a swarm essentially so intense feeding till winter I have been told straight sugar if resources are still light also gave polen patties , in 8 weeks a vastly different hive , they have come thru our winter in oz 5 frames spring pollen , nectar coming in 👍
@trevorwindle8980 his hives are starving, no honey crown, no honey around the brood, the population has dwindled to weak colonies. He has a golden rod flow about to start, bees should not be hungry and struggling just before a flow because they can't capitalize on it if they are struggling and have weak/small populations. Syrup is 100% interchangeable with nectar/honey. Pollen Patties are subpar to real pollen, sub is a poor substitute, it really is. Bees forage for what they don't have, so if you feed syrup on a flow like golden rod that has nectar and pollen, they really bring in the pollen more so than nectar. Pollen raises brood, pollen and pollen sub stimulates brood rearing, syrup alone doesn't stimulate the colony. Yes, syrup gives them energy to forage. Go have them collect what you can't give them, pollen. Beekeepers that learn to feed, when, and what to feed are the most successful. Those colonies should have been fat and heavy now for the fall flow, and maybe the fall honey harvest would have more than paid for the sugar. Instead, he's now building bees.
If they are struggling on the brink of starvation 2:1 would be so much better for them than thin syrup. When they go get groceries they go get what they don't have. Feed them thick syrup and they will forage for pollen, with pollen they will make bees, thats all the stimulate you need, real pollen. 2:1 will give them the energy to forage, thin syrup is asking them to stay inside and work hard to dry it down before it's fermented. They will use up most of the thin syrup just dealing with the thin syrup. Thin syrup is used on an already well-fed colony to draw comb or to keep it raising brood without over feeding to the point of being honey bound. Good luck.
I like 1.3:1 because of the stimulation while the goldenrod pollen is starting. It’s similar to a nectar flow. We will finish up w a pollen patty at the end of October
Use to eat those passion flower fruits as a kid in south Georgia and we called them "maypops" for some reason. They do pop when you squeeze them! little seeds inside coated with a sweet/sour membrane. yummy as a kid.
Is that ragweed pollen? You guys get fall nectar flow ?. doesn't the frame feeder help the hive beetle or no ? I see few here in Michigan sometimes but they don't infest .. alot questions I'm just curious not busting your balls..
Pollen right now is from Aster and Goldenrod. We have a great fall flow. I found 4 colonies that have already made 50+ lbs of goldenrod in the second deep!!! I custom build my equipment 1/2” wider than standard equipment so the bees can police around the edges of the feeder and 9 frames. Frame feeders don’t promote hive beetles…..beetles and wax moths are a symptom of other problems present. Strong colonies can usually handle beetles themselves.
What are your thoughts on reducing to singles? I've been doing singles with my 60 hives (after fall equalizing). I feel like the bees do better. But I'm always willing to consider other reasons to go back to doubles.
Two years ago most colonies made 30-50lbs on Goldenrod. Last yeah we had a hurricane come through halfway through the flow. We consider it a bonus if they do make Goldenrod honey
